Phlox plant named ‘Duephlopu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Duephlopu’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and relatively large dark purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEPHLOPU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duephlopu’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Phlox plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany in July, 2009 of Phlox drummondii ‘Wespohopi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,742, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii identified as code number PH06-0799-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox plant have not been observed under all possible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duephlopu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duephlopu’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large dark purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Wespohopi’. Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of ‘Wespohopi’ in flower color as plants of ‘Wespohopi’ have red purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Phlox are more compact than plants of ‘Wespohopi’.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phlox ‘Wespovio’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,735. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Wespovio’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more compact than plants of         ‘Wespovio’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox had shorter leaves than plants of         ‘Wespovio’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Wespovio’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Wespovio’ had dark violet-colored flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox had longer peduncles than plants of         ‘Wespovio’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duephlopu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii ‘Duephlopu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Phlox drummondii ‘Wespohopi’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,742.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             drummondii identified as code number PH06-0799-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             low to moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching             habit with about five main laterals developing per plant             with numerous secondary laterals; relatively short             internodes; dense and bushy plant habit.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Finely serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 144B;             venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 144C; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate salverform             flowers arranged in small panicles; flowers face mostly             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about four             flowers per inflorescence and about 120 flowers developing             per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from summer             to late summer in Germany; plants begin flowering about six             weeks after planting.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Close to 83B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, at the base.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five petals in             a single whorl and fused at the base into a narrow tube.             Length from throat: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture,             petal lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, throat and tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Developing petals, upper surface: Close to 72A. Developing             petals, lower surface: Close to 76C. Fully expanded petals,             upper surface: Close to 72B; venation, close to 72A; color             becoming closer to 89A with development. Fully expanded             petals, lower surface: Close to 76C; venation, close to 76C.             Flower throat: Close to 57C; venation, close to 57C. Flower             tube: Close to 76C; venation, close to 57D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five sepals in             a single whorl and fused towards the base into a slender             tube. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             Upright. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 145A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to             157B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther color: Close to 14A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma             color: Close to 3B. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color:             Close to 149C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Duephlopu’ as illustrated and described. 